Spring suspension system for vehicles



Aug. 24 1926.

' w. E. HENRY SPRING SUSPENSION'SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES Filed May 20 1925 WITNESSES: v INVENTOR:

W'ZZ' mEii B: m WORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 24,1926.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM E. HENRY, or TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

SPRING SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES.

Application filed May 20, 1925. Serial No. 31,566.

, This invention relates to spring suspen sion systems'for vehicles, more especially automobiles and the like; and is directed toward improving the riding qualities of such vehicles through efiicient compensative absorption and distribution of the shocks encountered during travel.

One way in which thishdesideratum may be conveniently attained will become read ily apparent from the detailed description hereinafter of the typical embodiment of this invention, shown in the drawings, whereof Fig. I is an illustration, more or less diagrammatic and partly in section, of an automobil equipped with my improved suspension system; and

Fig. II is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale taken as indicated by the arrows IIII in Fig. I.

The vehicle body indicated comprehensively at 1 may be of any standard design and construction, and mounted in the usual manner upon the chassis frame marked 2. As is customary, the ends of the sill rails 2 of the chassis fram 2 are curved or bowed downwardly as at 3, 4 for convenience in attaching the spring suspension system, which, in this instance, comprises two sets of compound front and rear leaf spring sections 5, 6, respectively. In accordance with my invention, thes spring sections 5, 6 are connected or joined in each instance, by several common auxiliary leaves 7 that are co-extensive in length with the chassis frame 2. The uppermost of the common auxiliary leaves 7 has its opposite ends fashioned to the form of loops or eyes 8 for pivotal attachment, on the one hand, to a pin 9 directly engaged in the forward extremity 3 of the corresponding sill rail 2 of the chassis frame, and on the other hand, to a pin 10 carried by a shackle 11 which is in turn pivotally hung from the rear extremity i of said sill rail 2 The front axle 12 which carries the steering wheels 13, is clamped to the spring sections 5 in the usual manner by strap bolts shown at 14; and similar strap bolts 15 may likewise be employed in securing th rear springs 16 to the rear axle housing 17 wherein is journaled the divided shaft for the driving wheels 18. At one or more points intermediate the front and rear axles of the vehicle 1, I interpose bet-ween the common auxiliary leaves 7 of the spring suspension, andthe chassis frame 2, yield-- ing connection means preferably in the form of auxiliary helical compression or buffer springs 19, which, as shown, are maintained against disalignment by opposed cooperative cuppedholders or washers 20, one of the latter being secured in each instance to .the chassis frame rail 2, and the other to the uppermost of the leaves 7, in any convenient manner.

Forthe purpose of preventing displacement of thesuspension system under lateral thrust during travel of the vehicle, I employ guides for the connecting spring leaves 7 bolted or riveted to opposite sides of the sill rails 2" of the chassis form 2, preferably at the regions of the auxiliary springs 19 as shown.

With my invention, it will be apparent that shocks received locally by anyone or group of the wheels 13, 18 are distributed uniformly and compensatively throughout the suspension system to the avoidance of excessive bounding or swaying of the vehicle body, the buffer springs 19 functionng incidentally to assist such distribution of the two sets; while the shackles 11 accommodate the linear expansion of the sys tem, and the plates 21 function to prevent lateral displacement of the springs 19 rela tive to th chassis frame 2.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim 1. A suspension system for vehicles comprising individual compound spring sections for the front and rear wheel axles of the vehicle, common leaves connecting said individual spring sections to distribute shocks incidental to travel for compens'ative absorption throughout the system, and yield ing connections interposed between the supported vehicle body and the common connecting leaves at regions intermediate the said front and rear axles.

2. A suspension system for vehicles comprising individual compound spring sections for the front and rear wheel axles of the vehicle, common leaves connecting said individual spring sections to distribute shocks incidental to travel for compensative absorption throughout the system, and helical buffer springs interposed between the sup- 'constituted by depending plates 21 (ill ported Vehicle body and the common connectinglei ves at regions intermedizite said front and rear axles. V

3. A suspension system for vehicles comprising individua-l.compound spring sections for the front and rear axles of the vehicle, common leaves connecting said individual spring sections to distribute shocks incidentel to travel for combensa-tiv'e absorption throughout the system, and means adapted to yieldingly accommodate linear movement as Well its prevent literal displiiceinent of sitid connnoii springleaves relative to the ve'liiclelio'dy. h V v A suspension system for vehicles compm individutl co'inp o'und' spring sections for the front end rezii axles of the vehicle, cou'u'non leaves connecting said individual spiing' sections to distribute shocks incidental to :t'i'avel for 'compen'sa-tive absorption throughout the 'system,-.and guides depending fioin the vehicle h'o'dy adapted to engage said common spring leaves with pro vision for linearmovement and to prevent ;prising individual compound spring sections for the front and rear Wheel axles of the vehicle, ccinmon 'leaves connecting said individual spring sections to distribute shocks incidental to travel for coinpensative absorption throughout the system, yielding 'coiin'ections' interposed between the suppoi'te'd vehicle body Send the common con nesting leaves'at regions intermediate the said front and rear axles, zind means at ezich of the yielding 'connectionsito prevent litterzil displacement, oi said common leaves relative to the vehicle body.

-'Ii1 testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, ?ennsylvanity, this 18th dzty of May, 1925.

' WILLIAM E. HENRY. 

